Golden Isles fishing
There are many barrier islands off the coast of Georgia. Four of them, Cumberland Island, Jekyll Island, Sea Island, and St. Simon Island, make up the Golden Isles of Georgia. They have excellent inshore and offshore fishing because of their locations. These islands and this part of coastal Georgia have been described as beautiful with splendor and great fishing. You will fall in love with the islands and with the world-class fisheries!
Almost on the southern border of Florida is Cumberland Island, the largest of the barrier islands. Cumberland Island is known for 16,850 acres of marshes, mud flats, and tidal creeks.
St. Mary, Georgia, is the closest central city where you can find some fishing charters to take you out for inshore, nearshore, and offshore fishing. There is excellent inshore fishing for Redfish, Trout, and Sheepshead. For these aggressive fish, you can fish the many backcountry flats, the Intercoastal Waterway, and the creeks.
St. Mary is the closest marina to the island, and there are a few fishing charters to take you to the backcountry and around the island. You may also find yourself nearshore fishing the reefs off the island’s coast. Here you can target bottom feeders like snapper and sea bass. You can also find Triggerfish and Cobia here in the shallower waters.
Jekyll Island is a little further north of Cumberland Island. It offers outstanding inshore fishing in the creeks, backcountry flats, Santila River, and the Jekyll Sound. You can find big Bull Redfish, Sea Trout, Flounder, and Sheepshead here. If you bring all four of them into your fishing charter, you will have completed the Southeastern Super Slam in one day. Along with these fish, you can find Jacks, the occasional Triggerfish, sharks, and giant Tarpon during the summer months.
About halfway between Cumberland and Jekyll Islands is “The Hole.” This is an 80 ft. drop where some big sharks are found, some of the largest in the Atlantic. Also, offshore you can bottom fish for Snapper, Grouper, and Sea Bass as well as target Cobia, Amberjack, and Triggerfish and troll for Mackerel and Mahi. And there are the actual monsters on every angler’s bucket list; Marlin (blue and white), Sailfish, Wahoo, Bull Mahi, and Tuna.
The other two islands, Sea Island and St. Simmons Island, are so close to each other that there are no differences. Sea Island has a few luxury resorts, and there is one Marina where a few boats run. However, they also fish the waters around the island and St. Simon Island.
Vice versa St. Simon Island is the most popular of the four Golden Islands. It has some of the best backcountry fishing in the country. This is why Sea Island and Jekyll Island charters venture to these waters. Like Jekyll Island, the bite inshore is fantastic with colossal Redfish, Trout, and Flounder. In the summer, giant Tarpon frequent the coastal flats and just offshore. There are other fish to target inshore like Sheepshead and Triggerfish too. You can find the same fish near the reefs on Jekyll Island. Still, to go for some exhilarating Shark fishing, Sea and St. Simon Islands charters need to venture to “The Hole.”
The Golden Islands are a great place to come to vacation with the whole family.
There are many things to offer for everyone, especially if everyone is interested in some world-class fishing. The inshore trips for all four islands are in the calm waters, perfect for families and nearshore. The waves tend to be calm too. However, offshore it can get rough, and when going offshore for the monsters of the sea, you have to be ready for big fights and waves. Nevertheless, the Golden Isles can tick some of your fishing bucket lists, and you will return to the dock with plenty of delicious fish to fill your freezer.